A man has been arrested in California after fleeing a day care center in New York where a child died and three others were hospitalized due to suspected fentanyl poisoning. According to investigators, the day care center was being used as a drug lab, where toddlers were playing and napping. This latest arrest is part of the ongoing investigation into the tragic incident.
After nearly a fortnight of investigation, officials in the U.S. successfully located and apprehended Felix Herrera Garcia, aged 34, with the help of Mexican authorities. Following his capture, he was handed over to American custody on Wednesday evening in California, as reported by federal prosecutors in Manhattan. Prior to Garcia’s arrest, his wife, who runs the daycare center, and two other men were taken into custody.
According to the U.S. attorney’s office for California’s southern district, Herrera Garcia appeared in a federal court on Thursday and was directed to be transferred to New York.
Following the sudden death of 1-year-old Nicholas Dominici at a Bronx day care center, a manhunt for the culprit began. The incident occurred during nap time, and several other children at the center exhibited signs of opioid poisoning, requiring the administration of Narcan to revive them.
During the police investigation, it was discovered that a brick of fentanyl was being stored on top of children’s playmats. In addition to the dangerous substance, equipment commonly used for drug packaging was also found at the scene. This shocking discovery highlights the serious consequences of drug use and the importance of keeping our communities safe from harmful substances.
After conducting a more extensive search, authorities stumbled upon a trap door located in a play area. Upon opening it, they uncovered additional packages containing drugs and various related items.
According to the allegations made against Herrera Garcia, his wife, Grei Mendez, first called him before dialing 911 when their children began exhibiting signs of toxic opioid exposure on September 15th.
According to the security camera recordings, he was seen entering the building even before the medics arrived. After two minutes, he was captured on camera exiting the building and heading towards a back alley, carrying two full shopping bags.
According to U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, Herrera Garcia made a hasty escape from the daycare, leaving behind the innocent children who were suffering from the effects of his toxic activities.
According to prosecutors, Mendez went on to delete over 21,000 text messages that she had exchanged with her husband.
As of late Thursday, it remained uncertain whether Herrera Garcia had legal representation to speak on his behalf. There were no records in court indicating the name of an attorney. Mendez’s lawyer has previously stated that his client was unaware of any drugs being present within the facility.
Mendez and another resident of the building where the day care center was located, Carlisto Acevedo Brito, are facing murder charges in state court for their role in the child’s tragic death. Additionally, Renny Antonio Parra Paredes has been charged with narcotics distribution resulting in the same fatality.
